The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1887-08-13
ST. Landry.
THE EMPIRE PARISH OF LOUISIANA, AND ITS
VARIOUS DIVISIONS, PRAIRIEs, ETC.
N. 0. Times-Dtmocrat.

st. Landry parish, anciently Opelousas, lies
in nearly the center of the State. It has
usually been called 'The Empire Parish, ;"
from the fact that it contains larger popu-
lation than any country parish in Louisiana
1t consists of several areas of all the various
species of land that Louisiana contains allu-
vial land along the Atchafalaya and Courta-
bleau, oak uplands, pine hills and pine flats
i'll the northwest, yellow prairie in the CEN
tral, gray prairie in the eastern aad black
prairie in the southern portions of the parish
About half the parish is wooded
The natural result of these physical divi-
sions is that the parish is divided up into
number of separate communities, each having
it's own characteristics.
Twenty-Five miles west by north of Opelou-
sas is Prairie Mamon, from three to six miles
wide. 1t is o beautifully undnlating upland,
aud is extensively cultivated in rice, the rice
growers utilizing the natural ponds or marals,
of which there are many and to secure cheap
and easy irrigation, artificial dams are resort
ed to. This portion of the parish is very
sparsely settled, and many thousand acres OF
land are still open to homestead entry. Saw
mills abound, and timber is abundant The
land is easily cultivated, and one hand can
cultivate forty acres in rice, yielding 4O0 bar
rels.
Faquetaique and Chataignier prairies, stu
ated between Prairie Mamon and Opelousas,
are more densely populated. They also are
largely cultivated in rice.
Prafries Bellevue and Grand Coteau, lying
south of Opelousas, are regarded as among
the best portions of st. Landry. Their lands
are superior in natural fertility to the praii-
fact, land can be bought cheap at from $3 to
lore 6eWfderesnd Coteau and Plaquemine
pPse told him %Raat 50 densey eEygISIm pSopn,
and and yerv w cheajs. attention to
and
fertile prairie, rising within two miles west
of Opelousas. The prairie was colonzed in
the last century by several families from
South Carolina. It is to-day one OF the most
prosperous portions of st. Landry. There are
still, however, many acres OF waste lands to
be purchased cheap.
| twenty-five years ago the soil of these prai-
| ries was considered OF very little value. The
| improvement that has taken place is due to
the spread Of a species of grass known as
'the gazon." Formerly the principal grass
of these prairies was coarse sedge Whlch
| added nothing to the soil and was very poor
food for stock. The gazon which now grows
everywhere is succuient and greatly relished
| by the cattle, and, when cut at the rlght
time, affords an abundant and nourishing
supply of hay It has thick, matted roots,
which annually decay, fertilizing the soil. BY
come among the most productive in the stare.
The gazon is peculiar to Southwestern Louis
| lana, and first made its appearance there
about fifty years ago.
Twenty eight miles north by west of Opel:
ousas another variety of country is reached
known as the Chicot hills. The land is not
as fertile here as it was before the war, due
to the fact that it was overcultivated on large
plantations. The country is not suited tor
cattle but is well adapted for hogs, winch
thrive on the abundant mast to be found III
the forests. Lime burning and tanning are
A dor n
amount of stone known as st. Landry mar
ble which looks very we'll when polished, is
also to be obtained from the Chicot hills.
The eastern portion of the parish is alluvla
land, and here are situated the sugar planta
tions. There are three divisions of this re
best improved, the Courtableau region, the
most densely populated, and the Atchafaiayf
!, region, sparsely settled. On the st. Landry
side of the Atchafalaya the alluvial land
have depth of from one to two miles, ant
produce cotton, cane and corn. The banks
the Bayou Courtableau are cultivated TO
nearly the whole of its length-thirty-s y-siA
, miles.
On the eastern border of St. Landry, wher
it meets Ayoyelles, is the Big Cane country
SO called from the numerous canebrakes ant
the unnaturally large canes that were foun
there by the early settlers. 1t extends frol
north to south about eighteen miles with a.
average width of five miles. More than ha
> the tillable land in this section is under Gu
tiyation. The lands on Big Cane were all et
tered by their present owners, who hold the1
directly from the government, but they ar
: to be bought at very cheap rates There al
no large plantations on Big Cane. The croE
|, are shipped via ChurchvilIe, on the Atchaf;
! laya. The New Orleans Pacific runs throug
this country.
/ Touching Big Cane on the south is Pet
Prairie, an elevation of alluyial land, cove
!, : ed with the same big cane, containing frol
$4,000 to IL, 900 acres of first-class land, non
: of which is under cultivation.
. Touching Petit Prairie on the west is Bayo
:, y Waxia. The land is subject to overflow her
u u so that cearings are few, although some
= the best plantations in the parish are sisua
e ed here.
y u Very little fertilizing is practiced in S
is Landry, only cotton seed and green manu-
;s ing being used to improve the quality of Il
4 land.
u - The farms in the prairie vary greatly
y size, running from so to 500 acres in g
=" tent. The labor supply is mixed, white al
black.
A great deal of stock is raised in st. Landr
the prairies Offering plenty of grass. Sto
raising, however. is not as common as befo
the war, when St. Landry boasted OF as lar
- herds as Texas. The farmers have foul
-; 70 crops more profitable, and while the parl
~ ~ possesses many thousand cattle, more tn
=, aUY Ob06F lu OGtStot CuOJ eSAo sSSS "~e
w. " dant than they were twenty years ago.
Va Va st. Landry contains two towns of some 81
~ ~ Opelousas aud Washington, and quite a nu
VI ber of smaller places. Opelousas, which @
;, taius $500 inhabitants, ID the parish seat
~ ~ Justice. 1t is one of the oldest towns OF
=. =; State, aud contains many fine residences a
- :. buildings. Washington, at the head of ma
as ~. CATION, Bayou Courtableau, is the shippi
te ae port of st. Landry. 1t is town of 2O0O
=, 10 habitants All the produce raised in the p
-, ~ ish formerly went to market via the Cour
eu eu bleau and Atchafalaya, but the branch r.
q" road running through st. Landry from
favette to Alexandria and connecting
in nu Texas Pacific and Southern Pacific railroi
y. .ef give it the advantages of railroad comp
tar tion.
M .er A majority of the white people of the r
,h- ~ ish are of French descent, occupying most
ne ne the prairie country. A majority OF the
M 1ei groes reside in the eastern portion OF the I
as as ish ON the large cotton and sugar plantatlt
~ 'u They are to be found, however, through
~ st. Landry The negroes OF st Landry
me me and have always been the most prosperou
.pey the State. Before the war the parisno
gne Ins the favorite residence of the blacks Vi
lol- country, and their descendants constitute
=. I; day an important element in the coiorea
y tue nuIation, It is estimated that fully halt
ioL :t, negroes in st. Landry own some real estat
rty ---aAe
mt Benyiile New Era: Those who nave
no. -. .ax1 ohnnE the iuRm6NH6 DOWe